ca·liph

[key-lif, kal-if]
noun
1.
a spiritual leader of Islam, claiming succession from Muhammad.
2.
any of the former Muslim rulers of Baghdad (until 1258) and of the Ottoman Empire (from 1571 until 1924).


Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English caliphe, califfe < Middle French < Medieval Latin calipha < Arabic khalīf(a) successor (of Muhammad), derivative of khalafa succeed

cal·iph·al [kal-uh-fuhl, key-luh-] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To caliph
00:10
Caliph is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
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World English Dictionary
caliph, calif, kalif or khalif (ˈkeɪlɪf, ˈkæl-, ˈkeɪlɪf, ˈkæl-, ˈkeɪlɪf, ˈkæl-, ˈkeɪlɪf, ˈkæl-) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
Islam the title of the successors of Mohammed as rulers of the Islamic world, later assumed by the Sultans of Turkey
 
[C14: from Old French, from Arabic khalīfa successor]
 
calif, calif, kalif or khalif
 
n
 
[C14: from Old French, from Arabic khalīfa successor]
 
kalif, calif, kalif or khalif
 
n
 
[C14: from Old French, from Arabic khalīfa successor]
 
khalif, calif, kalif or khalif
 
n
 
[C14: from Old French, from Arabic khalīfa successor]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

caliph
late 14c., from O.Fr. caliphe (12c., also algalife), from M.L. califa, from Arabic khalifa "successor," originally Abu-Bakr, who succeeded Muhammad in the role of leader of the faithful after the prophet's death.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
She helps them to discover that the caliph's greedy brother had plotted with the magician to become ruler.
Even if the ruler was not law-abiding, the scholars still did not spontaneously declare a sitting caliph disqualified.
We know from our own time what the caliph was dreading.
Shaggy forsaking the solving of mysteries so that they'll have time to spin tales for a cranky caliph.
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